Yes, it's true. The day has finally come where I am able to blog. I know, I know -- I'm sure everyone has been holding their breath and has been strapped to their computer chairs for the past two weeks on end (who am I kidding? This is the intern we're talking about here...I'll just keep my mouth shut, get some doughnuts for everyone and finish my TPS reports).

Regardless, I have been here at HSSTM Central Indiana for more than a month now, and I can honestly say it has flown by. I've had the pleasure of closely working with Brian Moore and Dave McConnell, along with the rest of the HSSTM staff.

I had no clue what to expect when I first started. I didn't know that I would drive in a Hummer for the first time in my life to go to a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at Warren Central, where I would see Clark Kellogg and gawk at him like a seven-year-old, star-struck Neanderthal.

I didn't plan on being able to go to the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches' Conference that was in the end of January, where I would see how devoted the track coaches were to help out their squads.

And I certainly didn't expect to learn as much as I've already learned about the surrounding area high schools.

I love Indiana high school sports, but I've never delved into the schools that geographically revolve around Indianapolis. I'm originally from Northwest Indiana, where I attended Lake Central High School, so I've heard of the Carmel teams and Hamilton Southeastern teams among others because, frankly, they've beaten the snot out of a lot of the competition from my area. (I'm still a firm believer, though, that Northwest Indiana high schools are some of the most competitive in the state.)

But now I've been able to learn about the other Central Indiana high schools that make the region so strong, too: Lapel, Perry Meridian, Cathedral, Roncalli and others. The Chico Adams story alone has been worthwhile. The kid has gone 53-0 the past two wrestling seasons -- I get weak in the knees just thinking how quickly he would beat me in a match.

Through the first month of my time here, though, the most important thing I've witnessed involves the actual production of this magazine and Web site. The amount I've learned about what it takes to run and produce a magazine is something I will never take for granted. It's not a simple task by any means.

Sappiness aside, I'm thrilled to start this blog, where I guarantee there will multiple future references to Brad Stevens and the Butler Bulldogs basketball team. Although I eat, sleep and drink Bulldog basketball, I'll be sure to get my feet wet and check out what's happening around the area as well. The girls basketball state finals on March 1 and the boys basketball sectionals already have me on the edge of my seat.

Sorry this blog isn't as long as it could be, but I have to go wash Dave's car and pick up Brian's dry cleaning after I make a couple rounds of coffee. Have a good weekend, and be sure to watch the Butler-Drake BracketBuster game tomorrow at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.